Willie Maddren question

Capybara

Capybara

Well-known member
(or fao Erimus74)

I had a vague recollection that Willie Maddren was called up into the England squad once but was injured so couldn't play even if selected. I've just been looking through my programmes and pulled out the one for England v Portugal that I went to in 1974 and Willie Maddren is listed in the squad. So, was this the one I had in my memory or was I thinking about another time? I must admit I was surprised to see his name printed in the programme, though I realise that programmes in those days were printed several days in advance.
 
I've done some googling and it would appear that he was in that squad and also the one for the game against Czechoslovakia the previous month. I can remember seeing him in a squad photo though and my recollection was that the strips were pre-Revie, maybe part of a larger squad for a get together under Mercer. I think Mills was there too.
 
Capybara said:
(or fao Erimus74)

I had a vague recollection that Willie Maddren was called up into the England squad once but was injured so couldn't play even if selected. I've just been looking through my programmes and pulled out the one for England v Portugal that I went to in 1974 and Willie Maddren is listed in the squad. So, was this the one I had in my memory or was I thinking about another time? I must admit I was surprised to see his name printed in the programme, though I realise that programmes in those days were printed several days in advance.
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I might be mistaken but I can only recall him being called up the once as you describe. I couldn't have told you who it was against and he definitely didn't play.

Edit- I defer to Paterson. ...
 
Somewhat bizarrely after another Google search, this time for images, I discovered a jigsaw showing the squad for that Czechoslovakia game. I'm on my phone so can't link it but I'm sure someone a little more savvy can find it.
 
Paterson said:
I've done some googling and it would appear that he was in that squad and also the one for the game against Czechoslovakia the previous month. I can remember seeing him in a squad photo though and my recollection was that the strips were pre-Revie, maybe part of a larger squad for a get together under Mercer. I think Mills was there too.
Click to expand...
I can recall the one with David Mills included in the line up,
 
Just checked the Czech jigsaw and he's not in the photo. The picture I can remember was a larger squad than normal, perhaps supplemented by U23s and I'm sure Willie was sat cross legged at the front in the Ramsey era strip.
 
Capybara said:
(or fao Erimus74)

I had a vague recollection that Willie Maddren was called up into the England squad once but was injured so couldn't play even if selected. I've just been looking through my programmes and pulled out the one for England v Portugal that I went to in 1974 and Willie Maddren is listed in the squad. So, was this the one I had in my memory or was I thinking about another time? I must admit I was surprised to see his name printed in the programme, though I realise that programmes in those days were printed several days in advance.
Click to expand...
I also have that programme
Capybara said:
(or fao Erimus74)

I had a vague recollection that Willie Maddren was called up into the England squad once but was injured so couldn't play even if selected. I've just been looking through my programmes and pulled out the one for England v Portugal that I went to in 1974 and Willie Maddren is listed in the squad. So, was this the one I had in my memory or was I thinking about another time? I must admit I was surprised to see his name printed in the programme, though I realise that programmes in those days were printed several days in advance.
Click to expand...
I have the Czechoslovakua U23 programme with the late, great Willie Maddren on the front cover Screenshot_20200928_152349.jpgIMG_20200928_151919.jpg
 
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Paterson said:
Just checked the Czech jigsaw and he's not in the photo. The picture I can remember was a larger squad than normal, perhaps supplemented by U23s and I'm sure Willie was sat cross legged at the front in the Ramsey era strip.
Click to expand...
Yes I have seen that, probably have it somewhere on my PC photos, sure David Mills was sat in the front row too
 
The funny thing is, just about the only thing I can remember about the game (it was a dull 0-0) is that Terry Cooper played and it was his last game for England - he joined Boro not long after. I hadn't realised Cooper wasn't a regular for Dirty at the time.
 
Capybara said:
The funny thing is, just about the only thing I can remember about the game (it was a dull 0-0) is that Terry Cooper played and it was his last game for England - he joined Boro not long after. I hadn't realised Cooper wasn't a regular for Dirty at the time.
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A player who was still good enough to play for England while at the Boro, IMHO mind
 
Biggest crime in football history that Willie and Craggsy were never capped for England. When you think that the manager was from Middlesbrough, it makes it even more gobsmacking! Did Revie have bad memories of the club or something?! You're not going to tell me that Steve Whitworth and Kenny Clements were better right backs than Craggs!!
 
Michael_Vronsky said:
Biggest crime in football history that Willie and Craggsy were never capped for England. When you think that the manager was from Middlesbrough, it makes it even more gobsmacking! Did Revie have bad memories of the club or something?! You're not going to tell me that Steve Whitworth and Kenny Clements were better right backs than Craggs!!
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Spot on, unbelievable :(
 
Erimus74 said:
Maybe they knew something about Willie Maddrens injury, hardly trained at AP but played each Saturday, not saying so mind but if that was the case then there was no excuse for not playing John Craggs
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Possibly, but Kevin Beattie played didn't he? You can maybe understand Willie because there were SO many top centre halves around. He still should have had a cap or twenty, but, yeah Craggsy is a bigger mystery than the Bermuda Triangle!
 
Michael_Vronsky said:
Possibly, but Kevin Beattie played didn't he? You can maybe understand Willie because there were SO many top centre halves around. He still should have had a cap or twenty, but, yeah Craggsy is a bigger mystery than the Bermuda Triangle!
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True yes, KB as proved while at the Boro whta a player he was with one leg, we can now see the resemblence with Willies time at the Boro, no trainging at AP, just jogging around the cinder path & played so good each saturday, what a player
 
Erimus74 said:
True yes, KB as proved while at the Boro whta a player he was with one leg, we can now see the resemblence with Willies time at the Boro, no trainging at AP, just jogging around the cinder path & played so good each saturday, what a player
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He really was. Beast of a player Sir Beattie.
 
Maddren Mills and Armstrong where called up for Don Revie Introduction squad/get together, about 50 players where called up though.
 
These first team England call ups for Maddren and Mills were mentioned in their Testimonial brochures with photos. The Millsy one he was sat down cross kneed - it looked like a Summer photo at Lilleshall. There is a story that the England manager at the time of Willie's call up (Joe Mercer or Don Revie?) when up to speak to Willie but did not know who he was.

E74 may have the Testimonial brochures - WM's was 1977/8 and DM's was 1978/9 - I sold mine to Alf with the Programme Shop on Parliament Road.

Ref Willie's knees - he used to mention Jack's training runs up and down Roseberry Topping as not helping his knees.
 
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